Ski Resorts

Maine

Sugarloaf Travel Guide

Sugarloaf is one of the best ski mountains in the east,
celebrated for its incredible terrain and variety, excellent
vertical drop and late ski season which can stretch to May. The
resort's relative isolation (four hours drive time from the nearest
airport) means quieter slopes even in peak season, while the wide
range of activities keeps visitors occupied even if the fairly
restricted après ski scene doesn't. The resort is enormous,
covering 1,400 acres (560 ha) of skiing terrain, so it's possible
to spend a week here and never ski the same run twice.

There are 15 lifts in total, including two high speed quads,
equating to nearly 22,000 skiers carried per hour. This resort
probably has the shortest lift lines of any large US resort, a big
plus over holiday season. Sugarloaf is famous for its challenging
and super steep black diamond Snowfields, although there are plenty
of runs for beginners and intermediates too across the 133 named
runs available. The ski school is excellent, though not cheap, and
there are plenty of groomed runs on which to practice.

The largest town is Farmington, 25 miles (40km) away with a
population of around 8,000, so it's no surprise that shopping is
not a popular Sugarloaf pastime. The most popular souvenir is
thermal underwear to cope with the occasionally icy weather.

There are some good quality restaurants right on the slopes of
Sugarloaf. Bullwinkle's at the top of Bucksaw Chair is great for
lunch, and in the evenings offers a six-course meal at a secluded
spot accessed by snow cat. At base lodge one can find Narrow Gauge
Food Station, Papa Gino's, and The Whistle Stop Café
offering decent enough food on the go. In town don't miss The Bag
and Kettle, home to Skiing Magazine's Best Burger 2008/9 and the
famous Cheeseburger Soup. Another good bet for great food and
après ski entertainment is The Shipyard Brewhaus in the
Sugarloaf Inn.

Sugarloaf's après ski is a classic bar scene of the beer
and sing-along variety, and most venues close relatively early at
1am. Some of the best après ski is at the very top of base
lodge in the Widowmaker Lounge, less sinister and a whole lot more
fun that it sounds. Weekends are best when live music keeps the
party going until late. Check out the Double Diamond Steakhouse and
Wine Bar inside the Grand Summit Hotel for live entertainment
nightly. Another lively spot is Theo's Sugarloaf Brewery which as
has a Margarita Night on Wednesdays.

Sugarloaf has a huge range of off-slope activities. There is
ice-skating at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, cinemas at nearby
Farmington, a fitness and spa complex close to the lodge, and even
an on-mountain worship center. If you need a break from skiing try
tubing, cross-country, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, and even xtreme
sports at the incredible onsite Antigravity Complex.

The resort is four hours from the nearest airport. Not the most
exciting après ski scene so party animals might be
disappointed, as will avid shoppers. Sugarloaf can be a little
expensive and gets very cold in February.